Marina Abramović and Ulay’s romance is an adventure that’s long been canonized in history books. The artist-duo created some of their best works throughout the course of their relationship — from the epochal 90-day performance piece titled The Lovers: The Great Wall, to the poignant reunion in The Artist is Present, Abramović and Ulay’s decades-long relationship is a testament to the power of personal and professional collaboration.
Recently I stumbled into Art Vital, a manifesto that the couple created in the years they spent traveling out of a van. Its bohemian principles pays a tribute to summer — and how for a season, a sense of freedom and adventure overpowers the desire for all else.
In an interview, Abramović rhapsodizes on those golden years with Ulay:
“We spent many years living in an old Citroën van with our dog, Alba, driving across Europe from one performance to the next. When recalling those years, I think of the total freedom we had. They were some of the happiest years of my life. We made a manifesto representing our values for this period of time, which we called ART VITAL.”
Where will you be practicing ART VITAL this summer?